Sitcoms of the 1950's Trivia Quiz

Answer: I Love Lucy

The original "I Love Lucy" show ran for six years, from 1951 to 1957, and finished first in the Nielsen Ratings for four of those six years. It was followed by a less successful hour-long show, called "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show". Their marriage deteriorated during this time, and the day after the last episode of this latter show aired in 1960, Lucy filed for divorce from Desi.

Answer: George Burns

"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" debuted on TV in 1950, following a successful run on radio. Its TV run ended in 1958, but only because Gracie grew tired of performing and wanted to retire.

Answer: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" ran on ABC for fourteen seasons, from 1952 to 1966. Its fourteen-year run makes it the longest-running show of the 1950s-era sitcoms. The Nelsons' younger son, Ricky, made his singing debut on the show in a 1957 episode, and by the following year, Ricky had become a big recording star with his number-one hit single, "Poor Little Fool".

Answer: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" had a four-year run on CBS, with 147 episodes being made. The beatnik character of Maynard G. Krebs, played by Bob Denver, was the most memorable character from the show, overshadowing the title character played by Dwayne Hickman. After "Dobie Gillis" ended, Denver went on to play the title role in "Gilligan's Island".

Answer: Robert Young

Hugh Beaumont played Ward Cleaver, the understanding father on "Leave it to Beaver. Jackie Gleason did not have any children on "The Honeymooners"; Danny Thomas had kids on his show but it was not "Father Knows Best".

Answer: an army base

Phil Silvers played Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko, who was usually trying to make some easy money with his latest harebrained get-rich-quick scheme. The show was set in Fort Baxter, an army base in the fictional town of Roseville, Kansas.

Answer: his feud with George Burns

Jack Benny did have a famous feud, but it was with Fred Allen, not George Burns. Both were good friends of Jack, and the "feud" with Fred Allen was purely fictional.

Answer: 39 (one year)

"The Honeymooners" began in 1951 as a short sketch on Gleason's variety show. It was a stand-alone show for only one year, from 1955 to 1956. Gleason agreed to terminate the show, leaving $7 million on the table which CBS still owed to him under the lucrative contract he and the network had signed.

Answer: The Danny Thomas Show

"The Danny Thomas Show" ran from 1953 to 1964. Actress Jean Hagen, who played Danny's first wife, left the show after the third season due to unhappiness with her role. The writers explained her absence at the start of the fourth season by saying that she had died suddenly. Actress Marjorie Lord became a regular during the fourth season as a nurse hired to take care of Danny's sick son, and the two fell in love and were married by the start of the fifth season.

Answer: a hotel

Ann Sothern played the assistant manager of The Bartley House, a posh New York City hotel. The stories usually were about the personal lives of the staff and guests.